[ Tatara grabs a tomato in his little break, something to munch on as he thinks.
He didn't foresee the barrier being taken the other way around—a trap to keep Oz inside instead of as a way to protect him. He wonders if Jing Yuan actually did any harm to the barrier, ultimately. After quickly jotting down a question mark by his name, he glances at Khun. ]
You've been checking on the barrier, right? I hope no one's been tampering with it.
[ That'd be pretty bad if so.
Still— ]
Thanks, Khun. I appreciate your vigilance. You've been working hard. [ Hehe! There's a little bubble of his own pride in his chest. ] I'll follow up with Ithaqua and see who he told. [ Just to double check. The last thing they want is there to be gaps in that chain of information. ]
I have, that's why I roped Maya in—it's fine, we check on it once a week. [ it's easier to do that with a southern wizard and she's a good bean, even khun can recognize this. and the praise! please, this is way easier than what he usually juggles, it's just awkward in a different way without his usual resources. he waves a hand and takes a sip of his juice, remembering then another detail about that whole jing yuan conversation. ]
Jing Yuan was the only one who asked me where I got my info from about Oz by the way. I told him it was from someone in Central itself and he seemed to buy that eventually. The last thing we need is him bugging you in that roundabout way of his.
He really likes to talk and I know he told other people himself about Oz, but I'll handle that since you've got Ithaqua. I can trade him info back about Vincent being relevant. He also knew about the Southern wizards, but just that they were comatose without any real detail as to why or when. The Eastern wizards are back too now, right? [ he pauses to grab a piece of broccoli, yum veggies. ] Either way, I cleared that up for him just so he didn't get any other stupid ideas.
[ so there's someone out there who knows about the southern wizards coming back and with jy just going around telling people... messy. his mental image of his fellow western wizard might be something like an old lady gossiping at a bridge game right now. ]
Honestly, if he knew we were dating I'd expect the whole Manor to have known in a day. [ though also they've been pretty obvious??? but still! ]
At least Kurapika and Mikaela know we are. I'd assume Akira and Ginger too.
[ Maya's good! Tatara's glad to hear they're working together, and he writes that down, too.
He chuckles a bit when Khun says that bit about Jing Yuan—he wouldn't have minded, really, since it is technically his job. But there's a little bud of warmth in his chest, because he takes it as Khun deciding to protect him anyway. Wah, he's so sweet? He's so lucky...
He nods. ] The Blanchetts wrote us a few days ago to say their son is back, but asleep. I'm guessing that holds for the other three. [ He just hopes they're in good hands, like the Southerners, and Oz. ] So thanks for that, too. I wouldn't want anyone doing anything wreckless.
[ He reaches to pat Khun on the shoulder when he shifts the topic to dating. Help! Tatara laughs, sheepish, faint pink on his cheeks. ]
Oof... You're right. [ A memory comes to him, and he laughs again. ] Did you know Kurapika-kun lectured me before we even started dating? It was right after Akira-san got possessed by that ghost...
[ Tatara laughs out loud, his hand on Khun's shoulder drifting to play with the ends of his hair. ]
He's so funny. Ahhh! That might've been because of me.
[ He sits up straight, taking his cardigan and turning it around so that the back now covers his front. Is this meant to represent how Kurapika dresses? Absolutely.
He drops his voice. That isn't what Kurapika sounds like, but it is in Tatara's mind theater. ]
"Tatara. I smell Khun all over you. Cover it up before the whole manor knows you're biased."
[ Real reenactment. That's exactly what Kurapika said to him. ]
[ this is so much? khun pauses right before he eats the onigiri, watching this entire display. it's cute and silly. but also he wants kurapika dead.
( he thinks it's mostly his fault actually, because they just have a knack for reflecting off each other in a way no one else can. kurapika's still the only one who can say what khun's type is in the entire manor.) ]
...I was too kind to him when I dragged him for Akira earlier. I'll make sure to finish the job next time.
[ He won't question because he figures everyone has their own friendships anyway but, what, ]
How come I never noticed?! How long have they been together? And— [ His mind slowly expands... ] Who else is dating, for that matter?! I thought the only other ones besides you and me were Ginger and Mika-chan...
[ sorry he's laughing a bit, that surprise is too cute. ]
Unofficially? My guess is around the time Mikaela got too nosy with me. Officially, after Central's mission.
[ said with zero shame. ]
Aside from them...something might be going on with Malice and Yamato, but I've been preoccupied with other things, so it's just a guess.
[ they were being very obvious during the ghost's great gay possession, but khun was very laser focused then. he's still good at reading Vibes in general though. ]
[ what the hell happened on Central mission that birthed a Central-only couple...
Tatara stares at Khun blankly for a moment, blinks twice, and then slowly speaks. ]
Oh... Is that why Yamato came to me asking for ways to feed vampires human food? I thought he was just worried about Mika-chan. [ You know, since they're country mates and all? ] I didn't know it was actually about Malice...
[ oh? he grins like a shark that's scented blood. ]
I change my approximation to highly likely then. [ taking a big bite of his onigiri and chewing. there's no exceedingly dumbface this time, but he is eating it with a different kind of relish. ]
I'm somewhat familiar with Malice, but I have no idea what type of person he'd be interested in. Yamato is fun to tease, though.
Mmhmm, don't ruin it. [ poking his cheek. don't talk with your mouth full! ]
No, I want regular omurice. With a ketchup decoration. [ ahh, it's weird how he was able to say that so easily? this stupid, stupid thing he's kept to himself for so long. he pulls tatara closer for that, though he doesn't say why. ]
[ Hehe! Fine, he'll shut his mouth and eat his food. He'll even wait until he's swallowed to talk. ]
Okay. [ In contrast, Tatara takes the request easy, nodding in earnest as he adds it to his list of things to give to Khun. ] What decoration do you want?
[ And now that he's closer, he'll kiss him on the cheek. ] Or do you trust me enough to surprise you?
I trust you. [ again, something he shouldn't be able to say so easily or at all. it brings a smile to his lips and he brushes his fingertips where he was just kissed, his smile fond and smitten. ]
Tatara, that makes it sound like you're going to create a new animal just for me.
[ not that he'd mind anything really. he leans in to return the kiss to his boyfriend's cheek belatedly, and then leans back to flop on the blanket, hands behind his head. ]
It has to look like an animal or it doesn't count. [ no giving him a blob and trying to pass it off as a slime! even now.
a poke...like this, his only defense is to try to nip in retaliation, but this position doesn't afford him much leverage (but it comes with a great view), so he only manages to brush his lips against his boyfriend's finger instead. ]
[ Tatara sticks his lower lip out in an exaggerated pout. ] What? I thought you trusted me!
[ Of course he'll make it look like a real animal... smh ...
It's hard to keep the smile to himself when Aguero kisses his finger, though. His little pout dissipates and he begins gently tapping his finger on Aguero's lips. They're so soft. ]
You. Your heart, maybe.
[ He has no idea, with his made-up competition in his mind. But he'll take this prize. ]
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He didn't foresee the barrier being taken the other way around—a trap to keep Oz inside instead of as a way to protect him. He wonders if Jing Yuan actually did any harm to the barrier, ultimately. After quickly jotting down a question mark by his name, he glances at Khun. ]
You've been checking on the barrier, right? I hope no one's been tampering with it.
[ That'd be pretty bad if so.
Still— ]
Thanks, Khun. I appreciate your vigilance. You've been working hard. [ Hehe! There's a little bubble of his own pride in his chest. ] I'll follow up with Ithaqua and see who he told. [ Just to double check. The last thing they want is there to be gaps in that chain of information. ]
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Jing Yuan was the only one who asked me where I got my info from about Oz by the way. I told him it was from someone in Central itself and he seemed to buy that eventually. The last thing we need is him bugging you in that roundabout way of his.
He really likes to talk and I know he told other people himself about Oz, but I'll handle that since you've got Ithaqua. I can trade him info back about Vincent being relevant. He also knew about the Southern wizards, but just that they were comatose without any real detail as to why or when. The Eastern wizards are back too now, right? [ he pauses to grab a piece of broccoli, yum veggies. ] Either way, I cleared that up for him just so he didn't get any other stupid ideas.
[ so there's someone out there who knows about the southern wizards coming back and with jy just going around telling people... messy. his mental image of his fellow western wizard might be something like an old lady gossiping at a bridge game right now. ]
Honestly, if he knew we were dating I'd expect the whole Manor to have known in a day. [ though also they've been pretty obvious??? but still! ]
At least Kurapika and Mikaela know we are. I'd assume Akira and Ginger too.
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He chuckles a bit when Khun says that bit about Jing Yuan—he wouldn't have minded, really, since it is technically his job. But there's a little bud of warmth in his chest, because he takes it as Khun deciding to protect him anyway. Wah, he's so sweet? He's so lucky...
He nods. ] The Blanchetts wrote us a few days ago to say their son is back, but asleep. I'm guessing that holds for the other three. [ He just hopes they're in good hands, like the Southerners, and Oz. ] So thanks for that, too. I wouldn't want anyone doing anything wreckless.
[ He reaches to pat Khun on the shoulder when he shifts the topic to dating. Help! Tatara laughs, sheepish, faint pink on his cheeks. ]
Oof... You're right. [ A memory comes to him, and he laughs again. ] Did you know Kurapika-kun lectured me before we even started dating? It was right after Akira-san got possessed by that ghost...
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confirmation about the eastern wizards is good and he nods. this is the least he could do etc! don't give him praise or a shoulder pat?!????
his expression is bemused and a bit wry, softened by the bloom of pink in front of him. ]
Really? He wanted me to say it explicitly not that long ago. But I figured he knew before that anyway, just that he didn't want to ask.
[ he is in fact still hungry so he reaches over to take another onigiri. speak now before he starts making more dumb faces. ]
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He's so funny. Ahhh! That might've been because of me.
[ He sits up straight, taking his cardigan and turning it around so that the back now covers his front. Is this meant to represent how Kurapika dresses? Absolutely.
He drops his voice. That isn't what Kurapika sounds like, but it is in Tatara's mind theater. ]
"Tatara. I smell Khun all over you. Cover it up before the whole manor knows you're biased."
[ Real reenactment. That's exactly what Kurapika said to him. ]
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( he thinks it's mostly his fault actually, because they just have a knack for reflecting off each other in a way no one else can. kurapika's still the only one who can say what khun's type is in the entire manor.) ]
...I was too kind to him when I dragged him for Akira earlier. I'll make sure to finish the job next time.
1/3
Aguero... Just make sure you don't kill h—
[ wait ]
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...Are they dating?
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They sure are.
They've been dancing around it for a while because Kurapika's an idiot sometimes, but Akira is a poster boy for his type.
[ don't ask him how he knows this. ]
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[ He won't question because he figures everyone has their own friendships anyway but, what, ]
How come I never noticed?! How long have they been together? And— [ His mind slowly expands... ] Who else is dating, for that matter?! I thought the only other ones besides you and me were Ginger and Mika-chan...
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Unofficially? My guess is around the time Mikaela got too nosy with me. Officially, after Central's mission.
[ said with zero shame. ]
Aside from them...something might be going on with Malice and Yamato, but I've been preoccupied with other things, so it's just a guess.
[ they were being very obvious during the ghost's great gay possession, but khun was very laser focused then. he's still good at reading Vibes in general though. ]
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[ what the hell happened on Central mission that birthed a Central-only couple...
Tatara stares at Khun blankly for a moment, blinks twice, and then slowly speaks. ]
Oh... Is that why Yamato came to me asking for ways to feed vampires human food? I thought he was just worried about Mika-chan. [ You know, since they're country mates and all? ] I didn't know it was actually about Malice...
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I change my approximation to highly likely then. [ taking a big bite of his onigiri and chewing. there's no exceedingly dumbface this time, but he is eating it with a different kind of relish. ]
I'm somewhat familiar with Malice, but I have no idea what type of person he'd be interested in. Yamato is fun to tease, though.
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I've talked to Malice a bit, and he's nice. So is Yamato.
[ He reaches for another tomato and pops it in his mouth. ]
They're probably cute together! I've gotta keep an eye out for next time...
[ Because now this is a thing they do, which is gossip about other couples.
Tatara leans up against Khun with a little hum. ]
I still think you're the best, though.
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You're the best too. But these omurice onigiri are really helping.
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Are they? Are they making me more handsome in your eyes?
[ Noted. He'll grab one for himself and eagerly bite into it. ]
Should I make more when we get back?
[ Talking with his mouth full because of course he does, ]
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No, I want regular omurice. With a ketchup decoration. [ ahh, it's weird how he was able to say that so easily? this stupid, stupid thing he's kept to himself for so long. he pulls tatara closer for that, though he doesn't say why. ]
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Okay. [ In contrast, Tatara takes the request easy, nodding in earnest as he adds it to his list of things to give to Khun. ] What decoration do you want?
[ And now that he's closer, he'll kiss him on the cheek. ] Or do you trust me enough to surprise you?
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So surprise me.
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A surprise it is, then. I'll pick something you'll never expect.
[ Another tomato for himself, popped into his mouth. ]
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[ not that he'd mind anything really. he leans in to return the kiss to his boyfriend's cheek belatedly, and then leans back to flop on the blanket, hands behind his head. ]
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Hmm, that sounds like a good idea, though.
[ He grins, and reaches with a hand to poke his nose. ]
Now you'll have no way to know what animal you'll get. And I win. [ hehehehe >:D ]
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a poke...like this, his only defense is to try to nip in retaliation, but this position doesn't afford him much leverage (but it comes with a great view), so he only manages to brush his lips against his boyfriend's finger instead. ]
And what exactly are you winning?
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[ Of course he'll make it look like a real animal... smh ...
It's hard to keep the smile to himself when Aguero kisses his finger, though. His little pout dissipates and he begins gently tapping his finger on Aguero's lips. They're so soft. ]
You. Your heart, maybe.
[ He has no idea, with his made-up competition in his mind. But he'll take this prize. ]
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